The three 1984 movies collected in this deluxe, extras-loaded boxed set were instrumental in mainstreaming both hip-hop music and break dancing, and while none are great shakes as motion pictures, they all boast tons of energy and feature dynamic musical sequences. Breakin' stars Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo “Shabba Doo” Quinones, and Michael “Boogaloo Shrimp” Chambers as ambitious but struggling breakdancers who take on better-organized rivals in a professional dance competition. The trio return in Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo, this time using their talents to raise money to save a community center that faces demolition by a greedy developer. Beat Street, a more serious film, stars Guy Davis as a rap-music DJ eager to escape the ghetto but intimidated by overwhelming obstacles, while Rae Dawn Chong co-stars as a cultured jazz musician who encourages him to mount a show drawing on the variegated talents of neighborhood “artists.” The three films offer early glimpses of many hip-hop pioneers, including Ice-T, Kool Moe Dee, Kool Herc, and the Rock Steady Crew. A bonus disc includes two featurettes: “The Culture of Hip-Hop,” which outlines the history of hip-hop and features interviews with the B-boys and B-girls, as well as Rock Steady Crew member Ken Swift, and “The Elements of Hip-Hop,” which looks at breakin', MC-ing, DJ-ing, and graffin' (i.e., graffiti). Also included is a five-minute segment devoted to hilarious “shout-outs,” a music video montage by the Living Legends, and a photo gallery comprised of over 100 behind-the-scenes stills. Unfortunately, none of the DVD transfers are very impressive, and while Beat Street includes both the widescreen and full screen versions, Breakin' and Breakin' 2 are full screen only. Optional. (E. Hulse)
The Breakin' Collection
MGM, 4 discs, 286 min., PG, DVD: $39.95 Volume 20, Issue 6
The Breakin' Collection
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